Birdwatching
According to Western Cape Birding, more than 240 species of birds have been identified in the greater Mossel Bay area, and certainly Great Brak is one of their prime habitats. Pied Kingfishers on the railing of the single-lane bridge are usually the first to greet you, along with the various Ducks in the water below. But that's just the beginning - you are likely to see Dikkops (Water Thick Knees), Oystercatchers, Grey Herons, Cormorants, Wagtails, Terns and Gulls, Stilts, White Egrets, Plovers, Sunbirds and many more. On the rare occasion, you may even see a flock of Flamingos in the lagoon. Paddle up the river, and you're certain to see Southern Red Bishops nesting in the reeds, and African Fish Eagles soaring overhead. Download this handy list of 57 bird varieties that have been spotted at or near The Island - see if you can spot them all or even add to it!
Just up the road at Oubaai in Herolds Bay, the Hyatt Regency hotel has put together a map and checklist of 112 different bird varieties sighted at or within a 5 km radius of the golf resort - certainly many of these birds are also found in the Great Brak area.
Western Cape Birding have an article on Birding at Great Brak River and provide a list of Garden Route birding routes on their website, and Dr. Anton Odendaal of BirdLife Overberg occasionally provide bird identification courses in the area for those that are interested.
Just up the road at Oubaai in Herolds Bay, the Hyatt Regency hotel has put together a map and checklist of 112 different bird varieties sighted at or within a 5 km radius of the golf resort - certainly many of these birds are also found in the Great Brak area.
Western Cape Birding have an article on Birding at Great Brak River and provide a list of Garden Route birding routes on their website, and Dr. Anton Odendaal of BirdLife Overberg occasionally provide bird identification courses in the area for those that are interested.
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The Great Brak Conservancy recently posted educational signage on the edge of the river and Morrison Road (near the railway bridge) which identifies a number of estuarine birds that are commonly be found here.
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